Daily Dialogue — August 1, 2012
Sarah sits by herself at a table for two. Borden ENTERS with a swagger, Olivia beside him, Fallon behind. The MAITRE D’ hurries over, signaling WAITERS. Sarah looks up. UNCOMFORTABLE.
SARAH: I didn’t know we’d be joined for dinner.
BORDEN: Absolutely. We’re celebrating.
The Waiters spirit another table and chairs to join Sarah’s. Borden pulls out a chair for Olivia.
SARAH: Miss Wenscombe. Mr.Fallon.
Olivia smiles cheerfully. Fallon nods, embarrassed.
BORDEN: (to wine waiter) Champagne. Your finest.
SARAH: What are we celebrating, dear?
BORDEN: Well, we’ve hit upon a new trick, haven’t we, Fallon?
OLIVIA: What trick, Freddy?
SARAH: (brittle) Yes, “Freddy”. What trick?
The WAITER presents a bottle of champagne. Borden nods without looking at it.
BORDEN: (loud) I’m going to bury myself alive. Every night. Then someone’s going to come along and dig me up!
OTHER DINERS are glancing over. The waiter uncorks the bottle with a muffled POP and pours champagne into Borden’s glass.
SARAH: (to waiter) I’m not sure my husband needs-
BORDEN: Who are you to tell me what?!
Awkward silence. Olivia shifts in her seat.
OLIVIA: Perhaps-
SARAH: Perhaps, Mr.Fallon, you might escort Miss Wenscombe home. My husband’s being a bore. I see no reason for
the two of you to suffer as well.
Fallon is on his feet, pulling back Olivia’s chair.
OLIVIA: Good-night, Mrs.Borden. Good-night, Freddy.
They leave. Borden glares at his wife.
SARAH: “Freddy”?
BORDEN: It’s my name.
SARAH: Not at home.
BORDEN: I’m not always at home.
Sarah is clearly on the verge of tears.
SARAH: Alfred, why are you being like this?
Borden, seeing her distress, softness.
BORDEN: Sarah, I had a terrible ordeal today. I thought I’d lost something very precious to me.
Borden looks at her speechless. Shrugs helplessly.
SARAH: I see. More secrets.
BORDEN: Secrets are my life, Sarah. Our life.
Sarah brushes away a tear.
SARAH: When you’re like this, Alfred, I’m not seeing the real you. You’re treating me like your audience.
Performing. I can’t live with that.
Borden just sits there. Offering nothing.
— Sarah (Rebecca Hall), Borden (Christian Bale), Olivia (Scarlett Johansson), The Prestige (2004), screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, novel by Christopher Priest
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is subtext suggested by lizswan. Today’s suggestion by Rob Rich
Trivia: Sarah’s line “I know what you are” was not in the script. Rebecca Hall said that she felt terrible right after she said it, thinking she had given away the ending.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Rob’s observation: “The Prestige is my favorite Nolan film (an adaptation of the Priest novel). I read the writing process between Nolan and his brother lasted five years. It definitely shows. Some of the best exchanges in the film take place between Borden (either Alfred or the twin) and his wife, Sarah. This is one of my favorites. It’s obviously the twin, drunk, angry their devotion to the art of magic has cost him his identity.”
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